Compared with the two dramas ‹Protect the Boss› and ‹Dr. Jin›, the result of this movie fell short of expectations. Nevertheless, it broke with precedent and he showed enthusiasm in the interviews. Even though the movie was already released, the media is still looking to engage with him.

“As an actor, it’s meaningful to me because it was an opportunity to show a different kind of acting. I also considered other movies but the characters in this movie appealed to me.”

“When I played Kim Kyungtak in ‹Dr. Jin›, the burden was big because after ‹Protect the Boss›, Kim Kyungtak was also a heavy role. I tried hard to avoid comments such as ‘Here he acts like that again’. It was good that Choi Hyun wasn’t a serious character. I don’t even know how long it’s been since I was able to show a bright and playful image.”

As a member of idol group TVXQ and then JYJ, he maintains top position in Asia. However, positioning himself as ‘actor Kim Jaejoong’ is different. Unlike many singer-origin stars who debut in acting with a title role, he did not rush and received good and favorable evaluation for his clever choices.

“Surely large amounts of screen time and high ratings are great. However if I want to take on a long path as an actor, I think my choices weren’t bad. Kim Kyungtak in ‹Dr. Jin› wasn’t an easy decision but it has become an important stepping stone for me. Instead of a main role in a blockbuster, finding the unknown answers one by one is indeed the true charm of acting to me.”

# “I always look for a medium in which to communicate with fans”

After 3 years and 4 months, the dispute with former agency over the exclusive contract has ended. Although he has finally found his freedom, it’s hard to expect immediate changes. Managing to follow the path he has been walking until now, he can’t do anything other than wait for a change in activity environment.

“I always look for a medium in which to communicate with fans. I don’t want them to only remember and support an image of mine that they have seen in the meantime. Therefore, we appeared in movie and dramas, held fan-meetings abroad, released albums, held world tour. Although I can comfort myself that I am still young and have much time, it’s so unfortunate that we can’t appear on TV. It’s like we lost the biggest weapon.”

“I think the fans that support us are more depressed [than us] as we don’t have much activity,” Kim Jaejoong revealed the reason why they keep working without break. Three members already made a significant number of songs; JYJ will release an album next year and meet with fans around the world again. “There will be Korean songs as well as English songs. The possibility of collaboration with international artists is also opening up.”

“There are many things I want to try besides movie-drama-singing. I want to direct concerts, work on music for other singers and also star in plays and musicals. If I put my mind to it, I have confidence that I can get a certificate in Korean cuisine in just 2 weeks. Also, I can do very well if I can appear on variety shows. Ha ha.”

@daebaksama
“I have confidence Kim JaeJoong, Park YooChun and Kim JunSu will do everything they put their mind to.”

Agreed, wholeheartedly. And Jaejoong and Junsu seem to have definitely put their minds to getting back on TV ! I admire their spirited lobbying for the broadcasters to relent. They are a force to be reckoned with, especially if they can just keep the conversation going in the press.

Regarding “Code name: Jackal”, I want to give him a pat on the back and tell him “you did well. I look forward to your next movie.” If Jaejoong wants to be careful and polish his skills some more before taking the main role in a drama, so be it. Only he knows what is best for himself and his acting career. Don’t hold back, JJ. Go out there, experiment, stretch your abilities, and see what you can do. Your fans will support you. It’ll be great of JYJ’s upcoming album includes Japanese songs too. It’ll be a multilingual album. 🙂

I think it isn’t so much as “so be it” as that is how it should be. Many idols turned actors have horribly embarrassed themselves by taking roles they aren’t ready for and coming painfully short of what the role asks of them. There are few exceptions. They think if they memorize the lines long enough that it means they have mastered acting which couldn’t be further from the truth.

Senior actors that have worked with Jaejoong have noted that he has potential (Jisung, Lee Beom Soo, EungSoo) which means he is still rough around the edges. They aren’t calling him an accomplished actor because he isn’t one. He is still fairly new and I hope he continues to work with actors who can help him hone his skills. Wouldn’t it be awesome if EungSoo-ssi and BeomSoo-ssi gave acting lesson to JJ? OMG!!!!

@retrokim
Have you watched the movie yet?Don’t you think your comments are too rough?Comme on Jaejoong does not need your opinion nor hopes for what he should do in acting.BaomSoo-ssi was great in some dramas not all he was in.Dr Jin got poor rating,but if it wasn’t for Jaejoong,no one would’ve turned on to watch this drama.All the senior actors in this drama did not help the rating. However Jaejoong’s acting stood out. I’m sure he did well in this movie as an actor,the success of the movie requires a lot of aspects which are out of actors control.

Did you misunderstand my comment? Angie made a comment about his approach in his acting career not his performance in Jackal.

He is still fairly new and while he has impressed he still has more left to do and therefore I am happy that he recognizes this and approaches it seriously. It is something to admire. It is common sense that he has not reached his peak yet. Nor did I ever say that BeomSoo-ssi was excellent in everything he has ever been in- but he is still a formidable and experienced actor just like EungSoo-ssi who can give much help to Jaejoong. In fact, Jaejoong said that EungSoo-ssi gave him valuable advice for his acting.

If it wasn’t for Jaejoong no one would have watched Dr. Jin? You can say that about yourself and many Jaejoong fans (me included) but not about everyone who tuned in. He did great and he impressed but so did some of the other actors and many SSH/PMY fans tuned in as well. (regardless of their less than stellar performance)

Never said he needed my approval either since Jaejoong himself said that he wants to use smaller roles to build up his skills. In saying that I think he is being wise about this and that this can help him continue to improve I am not insulting him or saying that he hasn’t done well. If anything I think it is awesome that he knows that acting has to be approached wisely. He avoided the embarrassment many other “idol-actors” have suffered when they take roles they aren’t ready for. Many fans have noted his constant improvement but also noted things he could have done better. Fans have that right, anyone does. I think that as a fan I can afford to be honest because I want him to not be taken as a joke like 95% of idols turned actors. I can’t stand how there are fans who applaud anything and think that an opinion that isn’t lavish praise is somehow overstepping boundaries.

I’ll be forever grateful that I watched Dr Jin in order to discover Jin Yi Han! Love him! And I loved much about the series – I watched the whole thing and I enjoyed it. It always surprises me when I read pans by people who didn’t like it. Jae was really good in it, as if I need to tell you. 🙂 When I think of all the series’ I’ve started and just hated and stopped watching….. well Dr Jin was just fine by me.

@retrokim
When I said “so be it”, I meant that I’m totally okay with his approach to his acting career. I’m not gonna rush him or whine about why he doesn’t take a main role yet. You, me, everyone can have an opinion. Some think he’s brilliant, others say he still needs to polish his skills some more, but only Jaejoong knows best what is good for himself and his career. He’s smart enough and the careful path he has taken so far is deemed right IMO. Like you said, he’s shown his potentials and other seniors see it in him to become a good actor. He has also successfully avoided the embarrassment some idol-actors suffered from. I’m sure he’s learning diligently. That’s why I don’t mind if he will take another second lead role, as long as all his characters vary and he gets to experience. When Jae is ready, we’ll be able to watch him lead a drama with confidence.

I completely agree. Acting is a skill and all skills need to be practiced diligently otherwise there is no improvement no matter how much potential. Have you noticed that all of a sudden SME idols are starting to follow this strategy? When lead roles panned out now they are starting to take smaller roles. Funny how much time it took SME management to figure that out. If a person just started acting there is very little probability that they are ready for a lead role.

@retrokim
“Have you noticed that all of a sudden SME idols are starting to follow this strategy? When lead roles panned out now they are starting to take smaller roles. Funny how much time it took SME management to figure that out.”

SME could vastly improve their fortune if they simply adopted the policy of waiting for JYJ to make a move and then do that too.
🙂

Recognizing that he (like any other person) needs to hone his potential is not being two-faced.
Actors that give amazing performances do so because they spend years perfecting themselves. Jaejoong is no different.
I never said he sucked or that he had no potential so I just can’t keep arguing about this.

Here comes the true face：“I never said he sucks.” This is exactly what you wanted to say.You don’t have to be nice to me, but please be nice to Jaejoong.He brings joy to our life. Please don’t play with our brain.

I very much appreciate your perspective. It is important to recognize that he has potential to grow, and to respect that he is continuing to work hard to improve. Perfection is not inborn; I am very proud of the hard work and dedication all three of the JYJ members are putting into their pursuits.

the result of this movie fell short of expectations
Dear KJJ, remember your talk with Song Joong Ki ?How do I become an overnight sensation? Joong Ki said, “I acted in a total of 13 movies where I am not the lead actor.” There were those that did not sell well and some that he is not satisfied with. He straightforwardly talked about his experience and feelings. Thus I told Joong Ki, “In that case, I will have to act in another 23 movies before I contact you again.” Haha. As a senior in movie and as a friend, he gave me a lot of suggestions and I am really thankful to him.
So I’m just right here waiting for your 23rd movie 🙂

I actually think that one of the reasons that JYJ kinda ‘settled’ with SM was that JYJ (especially JJ) needs to be on broadcasts, like NOW. It helps with getting their projects (JJs movie in particular) to be promoted to get people to go and watch. YCs drama is on TV and there’s a built in audience for dramas (and don’t have to leave the house and shell out money). Junsu had specific special events that fans can go once (like a regular concert) or 3 times like the musical/ballad concerts. A movie is different and needs big and consistent promotion so people will go to the theater or else they jut wait for DVDs.
Hoping for more JYJ on TV. Don’t need the fluffy shows though because JYJ transcends idol status. Still, they need to be out there more and easier access to fans and future fans.

@kris
“Joong Ki said, “I acted in a total of 13 movies where I am not the lead actor.” There were those that did not sell well and some that he is not satisfied with.”

Good point. Yes, we’re not ready to count Mr Kim out as an actor quite yet. 🙂 Nobody knows better than him what it takes to become accomplished at something. His burden is the intense scrutiny he’s under no matter what he does. Most young actors just toil quietly away at their craft mostly unnoticed until they come up with an inspired performance. Jaejoong is different. He’s handled like an A List star and watched like one when he’s still a rookie.

I just hope that he toils away at his craft whether he is in the public eye or not. Just like he constantly works on his compositions and musical interests it should be the same with his acting. (if acting is what he really wants to do)

I have seen everything he has been in since “Hard to say I love you” up to “Dr. Jin”. (I don’t count the Banjun dramas) and I am delighted at his constant improvement. He still has more to go. There is nothing wrong in saying that right? I would love to see him in many more roles for the future.

@retrokim
“I am delighted at his constant improvement. He still has more to go. There is nothing wrong in saying that right? ”

Of COURSE not. It’s a given. Jaejoong has just begun his acting career. Let’s let him have all the time he needs to explore and learn. I think acting is largely an interior journey so it’s right up Jaejoong’s alley. He just loves things like this. Let’s not be too judgmental right away and perhaps cause inhibitions. That would be the worst thing.

There is a movie that I hope Jae will see one day–“Merry Chrismas, Mr. Lawrence” with the great Japanese musician Riuichi Sakamoto. He played a Japanese general in a POW camp and his performance was absolutely mesmerizing. He only made a few movies after that–he went back to his music (he was a member of the group Yellow Magic Orchestra). His performance in this movie remains one of my favorites of all time (the movie also stars David Bowie).

It’s funny because Sakamoto did not originally want to play the role of the Japanese general, but the director (I forgot his name, he’s a famous Japanese director) insisted on using Sakamoto and begged Sakamoto to take the role. Sakamoto, who I believe had never acted before, turned out to be utterly brilliant. He KILLED that role! He also composed the soundtrack for the movie (it’s unbelievably great) which won an Academy Award. Sakamoto now travels the world playing his music. I hope that Jae, Junsu and Chunnie will try to see this movie, it might be hard to find–produced by Criterion studios. It also has an excellent ensembe cast with Tom Conti, David Bowie and Japanese actor Takeshi.